By Seidai Fujiwara / Yomiuri Shimbun Staff Writer
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FUJIKAWAGUCHIKO, Yamanashi — It’s not just the panoramic view of Kawaguchiko lake at the foot of Mt. Fuji that has made Lake Side Cafe Ku a popular spot since opening in March in Fujikawaguchiko, Yamanashi Prefecture.
What has drawn customers is the cafe’s emphasis on using carefully selected local ingredients for its drinks and dishes.
Yoshihito Kubota, 52, used to work at the Kofu city government before becoming the eatery’s owner. As an official in charge of the city’s public relations, he was engaged in activities to promote the city using local delicacies, including serving hoto noodles and corn to spectators at home games of Ventforet Kofu, a soccer team in the J.League’s second division.
He also played a part in founding a volunteer group comprising city government officials who aim to vitalize the city with regional specialties, such as chicken offal stew.
Through such experiences, Kubota began to “think about having my own eatery and introducing the attractions of the prefecture’s cuisine to more people.”
This prompted him to quit the city government in March last year and open the cafe by the lake.
“I fell in love at first sight with the beautiful scenery of the colors of the autumn leaves and the lake itself,” he said. (209 words)
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